PHILIP H. ANSELMO & THE ILLEGALS Welcome Former Cattle Decapitation Bassist Derek Engemann To The Fold; Band To Kick Off 2019 Live Takeover Next Week

PHILIP H. ANSELMO & THE ILLEGALS are pleased to welcome former Cattle Decapitation bassist/current Scour guitarist Derek Engemann to the lineup. Engemann — who takes the place of bass comrade Walter Howard (Grieved, Oppressive Force, Vaginal Bear Trap etc.) — will make his live debut with THE ILLEGALS beginning next week on the band’s Latin American tour where the band will be performing ILLEGALS tracks alongside a selection of Pantera hits.

Comments Anselmo of the new addition, “Derek is a brother; he’s solid, driven, and talented. It’s awesome to have him onboard and I look forward to jamming and writing with him. We’re lucky to have him.”

Adds Engemann, “I’m very excited to share the stage with mi hermanos in THE ILLEGALS! It’s also truly an honor to pay such a great tribute to Dime and Vinnie!”

In March, the band will make their way to Australia and New Zealand on the Thrash Blast Grind tour with Australian grind practitioners and Housecore Records labelmates King Parrot. The journey marks Anselmo’s first visit to Australia in over five years and includes a headlining set at Slayfest in Perth March 23rd. Additional support will be provided by Palm (Japan) and Potion (Australia). The summer months will find PHILIP H. ANSELMO & THE ILLEGALS playing a host of European festivals including Graspop Metal Meeting in Belgium, Hellfest in France, and Metaldays in Slovenia, with more performances to be announced in the weeks to come. See all confirmed dates below.

PHILIP H. ANSELMO & THE ILLEGALS will be touring in support of their critically-lauded Choosing Mental Illness As A Virtue full-length released last year via Anselmo’s own Housecore Records. Crowned, “fifty minutes of gnarly, vicious extreme metal…,” by Revolver Magazine, “an ever-shifting fusillade of extreme groove prog…,” by Decibel Magazine, and, “unquestionably one of the angriest and heaviest albums of ANSELMO‘s career,” by Exclaim!, Choosing Mental Illness As A Virtue is extreme, abrasive, aggressive, and anthemic.

Choosing Mental Illness As A Virtue is out now on CD, vinyl, and digital formats in North America via Housecore Records. Order bundles are currently available via the Housecore Store at THIS LOCATION. For digital orders, go HERE.

If you missed it, check out the official video for the track “Choosing Mental Illness” below. Directed by Katherine Richardson-Anselmo with director of photography Mike Holderbeast and starring Michael St. Michaels (The Greasy Strangler), the six-plus-minute clip pays tribute to Miloš Forman’s 1975 comedy-drama, One Flew Over The Cuckoo’s Nest and finds Anselmo playing the character of R. P. McMurphy.